This book was super informative from a scientific and anecdotal perspective. Unfortunately, I felt there was a missed opportunity for a direct, organized critique of the specific policies and institutions that are still weathering us.

There was a lot of talk about Trump’s racist language and the 20th- and 21st-century policies that brought us to this moment. There was also a lot of talk, as another reader mentioned, about individual and classroom-sized approaches to mitigating weathering on a small scale. As for a larger scale, there were some acknowledgements of car-dependency, mass incarceration, mass deportations, the inaccessibility of healthcare, and more. Unlike the small-scale solutions, however, larger-scale solutions were scattered throughout the book and not as decisive.

Perhaps as a researcher, Dr. Geronimus is less involved in making policy recommendations and instead just advises policymakers? But based on her research findings, I was waiting for her to suggest Medicare for all, police/prison/ICE abolition, student loan forgiveness, etc. as solutions to structural racism across the US. There was such a specific, detailed list of suggestions on making a small impact; meanwhile, the suggestions for a large impact were making healthcare more accessible in rural communities and being vigilant about Biden’s funding allocations, along with the concept of “revolution.” 

I feel the book could have been supplemented with a foreword or conclusion written by someone who’s comfortable talking about what a “revolution” — or at least policies that aim to dismantle oppressive institutions — would actually entail.

Also, whoever said male OB/GYNs didn’t deserve the smoke she gave them — lol, yes they did.